The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1887-11-17
Edison, New Phonograph.


ticulars.
When found in the laboratory of
his lamp factory in Newark, from
which 1000 lamps day are now sent
out, Edison said that the commercial
phonograph is now the most interest
ing thing in the world to him, al
though it is perfectly finished, and
tools are being made for its mauufac-
ture upon large scale. The stories
which Edison tells of what his per-
fected phonograph will do are so ex-
triordinary that he scarcely expects
people to believe him, and yet he says
that the apparatus is SO simple, so ef-
fective, and so Immediately useful
that he is certain of its rapid intro
duction into business-far more GER
tain than he was of the universal
adoption Of the telephone as a busi-
ness instrument. Edison says of his
newly finished phonograph: "You
know that finished the first phono-
graph more than ten years ago. 1t
remained more or less of toy. The
germ of something wonderful was
perfectly distinct, but I tried the i'm
possible with it, and when the cleo
trio light business assumed CONNER
cial importance, | threw everything
overheard for that.
Nevertheless, the phonagraph has
been more or less constantly in my
mind ever since. When resting from
prolonged work upon the light, my
brain would revert almost automati-
cally to the old idea. Since the light
has been finished, l have taken up the
phonograph, and, after eight months
Of steady work, have made it COM
mercial invention. My phonograph
| expect to see in every business Office.
The first five hundred, will, l hope, be
ready for distribution about the end
Of January. Their operation is sim
plicity itself, and cannot fail. The
merchant or clerk who wishes to send
a letter has only to set the machine in
motion, and talk in his natural voice
and at the usual rate of speed into the
receiver. When he has finished, the
sheet, or 'phonogram,' as l call it, is
ready for putting into little box
made on purpose for the mails We
are making the sheets in three sizes
one for letters Of from 800 to 1000
words, another size for 1900 words,
another size for 1000 words. | ex-
pect that an arrangement may be
made with the post Office authorities
the phonogram boxes to be
sent at the same rate as letter.
1.-THE receiver of a phonogram will
put it into his apparatus, and the mes
sage will be given out more clearly,
more distinctly, than the best tele-
phone message ever sent. The tones
of the voice in the two monographs
which [ have finished are so perfectly
rendered that one can distinguish be-
tween twenty different persons, each
one Of whom has said few words.
One tremendous advantage is that the
letter may be repeated thousand
times if necessary. The phonogram
does not wear out by use. Moreover,
it may be filed away for hundred
years and be ready the instant it is
needed. If man dictates his will to
The phonograph, there will be no dis
putting the authenticity of the docu-
nent with those who knew the tones
IF his voice in life. The cost of max
ng the phonogram will be scarcely
more than the cost Of ordinary letter
paper. The machine will read out the
etter or message at the same speed
With which it was dictated.
Il have experimental with device
'or enabling printers to set type di-
-ectly from the dictation of the phon-
,grapb, and think it will work to a
charm. It is so arranged that the
printer by touching a lever with his
'oot allows five or ten words Of the
monogram to be sounded. lie he is
lot satisfied with the first hearing, he
;an make it repeat the same words
'yer and over again until he has them
n type. For busy men who dictate a
,reat deal for the press, l am sure
hat the phonograph will be neces-
ity after very little experience.
For musicians the photograph is
,oing to do wonders, owing to the ex-
RENE cheapness with which | can du-
'licate phonagrams and the delicacy
With which the apparatus gives out all
musical sounds. In the early phono-
raph Of ten years ago, which was
cry imperfect and crude affair COM
ared to that Of to-day, it was always
otlced that musical sounds came out
eculiarly well. The machine would
thistle or sing far better than it
7ould talk. This popularity Of the
Monograph remains. I have taken
own the music of an orchestra, and
he result is marvellous. Each instru-
lent can be perfectly distinguished,
he strings are perfectly distinct, the
iolins from the cellos, the wind in
5ruments and the wood are perfectly
card, and even in the notes of vio-
n the overtones are distinct to a del
;ate ear. 1t is going to work won
ers for the benefit of music lovers.
e e. |